The Nation - News from March 1, 1987

Next fall’s college bills will surpass last year’s 1.1% inflation rate, jumping about 6% to 10% at private schools and rising slightly less at public universities, a sampling of colleges showed. For example, the cost of a degree at Yale, a private school, will soar to more than $70,000 if the $17,020 term bill next fall, up 6.1%, remains steady for four years. The strongest signal that tuitions in state universities are rising came in mid-year as legislatures in 20 states cut appropriations to higher education. Reagan Administration cuts in support for higher education are among the reasons tuition hikes have outpaced overall inflation, officials said. Other factors include raises for faculty and other workers, repairs to buildings, library and laboratory improvements, and adding computers.